Coaxial element turret



y 1963 H. LEKNOVICH 3,096,495

COAXIAL ELEMENT TURRET Filed Nov. '7, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR.

HENRY LEKNOVICH AGENT July 2, 1963 Filed NOV. 7. 1960 H. LEKNOVICH COAXIAL ELEMENT TURRET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

HENRY LEKNovlcH AGENT United States Patent 3,096,495 COAXIAL ELEMENT TURRET Henry Leknovich, Alhambra, Calif., assignor to Stoddart Aircraft Radio Co. Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Nov. 7, 1960, Ser. No. 67,347 14 Claims. (Cl. 333-81A) My invention relates to adjustable coaxial element assemblies and particularly to devices of this class of improved construction.

The Adjustable Coaxial Attenuator Assembly of I. W. Shaw, US. Patent No. 2,643,294, issued June 23, 1953, has enjoyed wide use in the practice of the radio frequency art, particularly in the multi-megacycle ranges of frequency. The pull-turn-push manner of changing elements in a coaxial circuit has been a fundamental one. It has been employed for years without modification by those manufacturing such assemblies according to the patent.

The patented structure does, however, have one serious disadvantage. This has been tolerated because of the numerous advantages it otherwise affords. The disadvantage lies in the fact that the whole assembly must be dismantled if it is desired to change one or more of the coaxial elements. Since these elements are often resistive attenuators, which are subject to burn-out by electrical overload, the repair problem has been a serious one. The assembly operates by virtue of precise mechanical alignment and adjustments to insure the highest grade of electrical performance. Thus far, an electrical repair has resulted in the mechanical alignment and adjustment being destroyed and the need for reestablishment of these mechanical conditions. In fact, this problem has thus far been so severe that these assemblies have been manufactured one at a time, insofar as assembly is concerned, and assembly has been undertaken in each instance only after the exact order for the desired resistance values, etc. had

. been received from the customer.

I have been able to completely remove this disadvantage by forming one of the two disk members of the original invention into a spider or cradle in coaction with one of several types of retaining rings or elements. In atypical embodiment a spider and a surrounding ring are employed with a plurality of fastenings therebetween. The parts do not require precise fitting nor adjustment. Upon the removal of the fastenings the ring is translated axially of the group of coaxial elements to beyond the same, after which any of the elements may be removed by axial translation from'the disk at the other end and then lifting free. In certain embodiments I employ a garter spring to retain other of the elements in approximate position so.

that the whole coaxial element group will not fall out of place upon the removal of one thereof.

With my improved embodiments the replacement job can be accomplished in a minute without tools, or at most with the aid of a screwdriver. Also, in manufacture, the assemblies can be completed and mechanically adjusted, save for the coaxial elements desired, and these can be inserted in a fewminutes upon the receipt of an order.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved mechanically adjustable electrical assembly.

Another object is to provide an improved assembly in which any or all electrical elements may be quickly and easily replaced.

Another object is to provide convenient alterability of a mechano-electrical assembly at very little additional cost or complexity.

Other objects will become apparent upon reading the following detailed specification and upon examining the accompanying drawings, in which are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of my invention.

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FIG. 1 shows an assembled view of my turrent device,

FIG. 2 shows a view of my turret device with the retaining ring disconnected and translated, and one of the coaxial electrical elements removed,

FIG. 3 shows the detail of a scalloped retaining ring and the coactive inner spider or cradle,

FIG. 4 shows a plain retaining ring and the spider,

FIG. 5 shows a garter spring suited to act as a retainmg ring,

FIG. 6 shows a rigid hinged clamp suited to act as a retaining ring, and

FIG. 7 shows a clip type holder for retaining the coaxial elements.

In FIG. 1 a stationary frame is formed by two end plates 1 and 2 and three rods 3, 4 and 5. A central shaft 6 and knob 6a translate plate 7 and the whole turrent structure, represented by elements 8 and 9; through a lostmotion attachment to that structure. Upon knob 6a being pulled away from the rest of the device, a selected electrical element 9 (typically coaxial in nature) is disengaged from both connectors 10 and 11 in a successive manner. The turret structure is then free to be rotated by the same knob to place any of the other coaxial elements in circuit, both mechanically and electrically. This is accomplished by pushing the knob back toward the rest of the device as soon as the other desired coaxial element has been rotated to the connection position. A roller detent 12 allows the turret to rest only at the connection position for some one of the coaxial elements.

My retaining ring 14 is shown at one end of the several coaxial elements, with one of the fastening holes 15 in the ring also visible. The hole encompasses the head of a set screw threaded into the spider to position the ring thereupon as will be further detailed. Garter spring 16 is shown in a typical position for retaining in an auxiliary manner, the several coaxial elements into the spider.

The disk 17, at the other end of each of the coaxial elements, has holes to accommodate the several elements 8, 9, etc. The disk is constructed in one piece.

The coaxial elements are constructed such that the desired electrical properties are within the outer conductor. While this property is often resistive in nature so that the whole structure comprises a variable coaxial attenuator, the coaxial elements, or one of them, may include a resistive termination to energy entering the assembly at either connector 10 or connector 11, with the connection to the opposite connector being an open circuit. Further, high or low pass filter elements may be included in the coaxial elements, or delay lines.

For frequencies in the kilomegacycle the elements and the connectors may be wave-guides, since these may have rectangular as well as circular cross-sections. The ele ments may also be hydraulic and include check valves having different pressure settings, etc. and fluids rather than electricity be conveyed through connectors 10 and In FIG. 2 the coaxial turret has been partially disassembled and a coaxial element, say 9, has been removed. This has been accomplished by removing the screws from holes 15 and translating ring 14 to contact with plate 7. It will be seen that any of the coaxial elements may then be translated toward plate 7. This allows any such element to be freed of the constriction of its hole in disk 17 and to :be lift-ed free of cradle 18, which may be seen in FIG. 2; The element may then be lifted entirely out of the turret assembly against the nominal restraining force of garter spring 16. In this embodiment the garter spring is included as a convenience in removing one of the coaxial elements at a time. If it is not employed as a deformable retainer around the turret assembly, several or all of the coaxial elements may fall out of the turret during the manipulation to remove only a specific one.

Of course, care in this manipulation will allow the garter spring to be eliminated.

FIG. 3 shows the details of scalloped ring 14 and cradle 18 in full-circle view. In the scalloped ring it will be noted that only a cut 19 separates the ring from the spider. The spider (or cradle) 18 has a rectangular central hole 20, through which shaft fits (being suitably flatted) so that the spider may be rotated by the shaft. Ring 14 has a plurality, such as three, of holes 15 drilled radially completely through the ring. In the assembled condition, which is shown, the corresponding number of fillister-head machine screws 21 are screwed in place in tapped radial holes in the spider. The diameter of holes 15 are slightly in excess of the diameter of the heads of screws 21. It will be understood that the outer extent of the several holes retaining the coaxial elements is determined by the machining operations on the spider and scalloped ring as an entity. Thus, at 22, the overall diam eter of the turret assembly is uniquely determined and depends for concentricity upon the slight tolerance between the spider and scalloped ring at cut 19. Accordingly, a close fit between the head of screws 21 and holes 15 is not required, nor even desired according to my invention. The screw heads serve mainly to prevent translation of ring 14 beyond the ends of the coaxial elements when the turret is in the assembled condition. A mechanical relation allowing electrical replacement having a wide tolerance of perhaps as much as A is all that is involved in restoring a fit of a very few thousandths of an inch as determined by that of cut 19.

An alternate construction of the retaining ring is shown in FIG. 4. Here, ring 25 has the conventional ring (or hoop) shape; having smooth inner and outer circumferential surfaces. The inner diameter is such that it lies tangent to each of the coaxial elements, as 8, 9, etc. Because of this tangency relation it is seen that the whole group of coaxial elements will be tightly held in the spider.

Plural screws are again employed for fastening, but with heads of slightly different shape. The heads 26 are each of more than conventional length, thus extending sufficient far radially to engage holes 27 in substantially the same way that former screws 21 engaged holes 15 (-FIG. 3).

It will be understood that the actual precise fits in a device of this kind are made between the ends of the coaxial elements, such as 9, and the coaxial connectors and 1-1. For this reason the fits of the coaxial elements in the spider, etc. are purposely made with a slight amount of play so that there will not be two parts of the structure involved in making a fit that is required to be precise with respect to only one part thereof.

For this reason it will be seen that a simple circum ferential tensioning element, such as the garter spring 30 of FIG. 5, will sufiice to retain the coaxial elements to spider 18. In this embodiment this spring serves as the main retaining member and also as the auxiliary member to prevent the group of coaxial elements from disassociating when only one element is to be replaced. A slight shoulder on each coaxial element is sufficient, in combination with the friction between spring 30 and the several elements, to prevent spontaneous translation of the spring to the end of the turret when the same is in use.

Instead of the long coiled spring that constitutes a garter spring, it will be realized that a spring of circumferential shape formed from flat spring material may be employed; also such a spring of spring wire. The flat spring embodiment is of the nature of the trouser guard used by cyclists.

In FIG. 6 another alternate embodiment of the retaining ring takes the form of a hinged and rigid retaining clamp 33. This is formed in essentially a smooth circum- 'ferential ring with a pin hinge 34 at one point in the circumference and means to fasten the ring tightly as a clamp at the point diametrically opposite to the hinge. The fastening means may take the form of a knurledhead thumbsorew 35 arranged to thread into one end 36 of the ring that is provided with a butting flange.

It will be further appreciated that the purpose of my invention can be accomplished by employing individual clip-type holders for the cradle end of each coaxial element, as is shown in FIG. 7. Here the former spider or cradle degenerates into a simple disk 38. It is provided circumferentially with as many clips 39 as there are coaxial elements to be included in the turret assembly. These are reentrant upon each element and are formed of spring material so that a sufficient external force, as exerted by ones fingers, is required to dislodge any of the elements 8, 9, etc. from the turret structure. It will be understood that in this alternate embodiment a garter spring is not required, since each clip functions with but one coaxial element. Each clip is preferably held to the central disk 38 by two small drive screws 40, or their equivalent.

While materials of construction are not critical it is usual to employ an aluminum alloy for the major parts of my device, save rods and fastenings, which are preferably of stainless steel.

It will he understood that in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 a removable pin may be employed in place of screw 21 in coaction with hole 15; and similarly in FIG. 4 for screw 26 in coaction with hole 27.

Furthermore, a band of high quality rubber may be employed instead of garter springs 16 or 30 or stated equivalents.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 it will be understood that rod 4 is directly below rod 3 and so cannot be separately seen. Rods 3, 4 and 5 are disposed at three corners of plates 1 and 2 to provide a stable stationary structure and each are fastened to the plates by screws shown.

Still other modifications may be made in arrangement, size, proportions and shape of the illustrative embodiments shown without departing from the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention and the manner in which it is to be practiced, I claim:

1. In a mechanism having plural tubular elements,

means to support said elements at one end of each in a circular configuration,

a connector at each end of said mechanism,

rotary means to align a selected said tubular element with said connectors and translational means to effect connection of said selected element to said connectors,

further means to replaceably support said elements at the other end of each comprising;

an inner support permanently attached to said rotary means,

a single retaining means surrounding all said tubular elements and peripherally coactive with only a part of the periphery of each of said tubular elements and with said inner support to solely replaceably structurally unify the recited elements subject to rotation.

2. In a turret assembly having plural tubular elements,

aligned tubular connectors,

means to rotate said elements as a group to selectively position one of said elements in alignment with said connectors,

and means to translate said elements as a group to connect the selected said element to said connectors,

means to selectively replace a said element comprising,

a cradle attached to said means-to-rotate to receive said plural elements,

and removable means circumferentially disposed around all said plural elements as a group to retain said plural elements in said cradle,

and by displacement of only said removable means longitudinally beyond said plural elements to allow selective replacement of said plural elements.

3. In a cylindrical turret assembly having plural coaxial elements,

plural aligned coaxial connectors,

means to rotate said elements as a group to selectively position one of said elements in alignment with said connectors,

and means to translate said elements as a group to connect the selected said element to said connectors;

means to selectively replace a said element comprising,

a spider attached to said means-to-rotate formed to circumferentially receive said plural elements,

and a single retainer removably circumferentially disposed around all of the group of said plural elements to retain said plural elements in place upon said spider and by tnanslation of only said retainer away from said spider beyond the ends of said plural elements to allow selective replacement of said plural elements.

4. In an assembly having plural tubular elements,

plural aligned connectors disposed at ends of said elements,

means to rotate said element-s to selectively position one of said elements in alignment with said connectors,

and means to translate the said elements in relation to said connectors to connect the selected said element to at least one of said connectors;

means to selectively replace a said element comprising inner support means attached to said means-to-rotate at one end of the group of said elements,

a ring detachably closely surrounding all said tubular elements as a group and plural radially disposed fastenings coac-tive with said ring and with said inner support means;

said ring related to said elements to allow selective removal thereof upon the translation of said ring to an end of said elements.

5. In a turret assembly having plural circularly arranged coaxial electrical elements,

coaxial electrical elements,

two coaxial connectors aligned at opposite ends of said electrical elements,

means to simultaneously rotate all said electrical elements 7 to selectively position one of said electrical elements in alignment with said connectors,

and means to translate all said electrical elements and one of said connectors to connect the selected said electrical element to both said connectors;

means to selectively replace a said electrical element comprising inner support means attached to said means-to-rotatc to cradle all of said electrical elements,

a circular ring detachably surrounding sm'd coaxial electrical elements,

and plural radially disposed detachable fastenings coactive with.

said circular ring and with said inner support means;

said ring closely related to said electrical elements to allow selective lateral removal thereof upon only the translation 7 of said ring to an end of said electrical elements.

6. In an assembly of cylindrical shape having plural tubular elements,

plural aligned connectors disposed at ends of said elements,

means to rotate said elements to selectively position one of said elements in alignment with said connectors,

and means to translate the said elements in relation to said connectors to connect the selected said element to at least one of said connectors;

means to selectively replace a said element comprising inner support means permanently attached to said means-to-rotate at one end of the group of said elements,

a ring detachably surrounding said inner support means,

and plural radially disposed detachable fastenings coactive with said ring and with said inner support means;

said ring mechanically related to said tubular elements to allow selective radial removal thereof upon the translation of said ring beyond one end of said elements.

7. In a turret assembly having plural circularly arranged coaxial electrical elements,

two coaxial connectors aligned at opposite ends of said electrical elements,

means to simultaneously rotate all of said electrical elements to selectively position one of said electrical elements in alignment with said connectors, and means to simultaneously translate all said electrical elements and at least one of said connectors to connect the selected said electrical element to both said connectors;

means to selectively replace a said electrical element comprising inner support means permanently attached to said means-to-rotate to cradle all of said electrical elements,

a scalloped retaining ring removably closely surrounding said inner support means,

and plural radially disposed detachable fastenings coactive with said retaining ring and with said inner support means;

said retaining ring related to said electrical elements to allow selective removal thereof upon the translation of said retaining ring to one end of said electrical elements.

8. In an assembly having plural tubular elements,

plural aligned connectors disposed at ends of said elements,

means to rotate said elements to selectively position one of said elements in alignment with said connectors, and means to translate the said elements in relation to said connectors to connect the selected said element to at least one of said connectors;

means to selectively replace a said element comprising inner support means attached to said means-to-rotate at one end of the group of said elements,

one spring surrounding all said elements in relation to said inner support means such as to retain said elements and upon deformation of said spring to allow said elements to be selectively removed by radial displacement thereof.

9. The means to selectively replace a said tubular element according to claim 8,

in which said spring is formed of fiat material, the fiat surf-ace of which presses against all said tubular elements.

10. The means to selectively replace a said tubular element according to claim 8,

and said spring wire presses against all said tubular elements. 11. In a turret assembly having plural circularly arranged coaxial electrical elements,

two coaxial connectors aligned at opposite ends of said electrical elements,

means to simultaneously rotate all of said electrical elements to selectively position one of said electrical elements in alignment with said connectors, and means to simultaneously translate all said electrical elements and one of said connectors to connect the selected said electrical element to both said connectors;

means to selectively replace a said electrical element comprising inner support means attached to said means-to-rotate to cradle all of said electrical elements adjacent to one end thereof,

only one elastic garter spring surrounding all said electrical elements in approximate longitudinal alignment with said inner support means such as to retain said elements and upon deformation of said spring to allow said electrical elements to be selectively removed.

12. In a turret assembly having plural circularly arranged coaxial electrical elements,

coaxial connectors aligned at opposite ends of said electrical elements,

means to simultaneously rotate all of said electrical elements to selectively position one of said electrical elements in alignment with said connectors, and means to simultaneously translate all said electrical elements and one of said connectors a lesser distance to connect the selected said electrical element to said connectors;

means to selectively replace a said electrical element comprising an inner cradle attached to said means-to-rotate to support said plural electrical elements adjacent to one end thereof,

a rigid hinged retaining ring having a break in the circumference thereof opposite to said hinge,

said ring surrounding all said electrical elements closely adjacent to said cradle,

and means to detachably fasten said ring at said break to detachably retain said electrical elements.

13. In an assembly having plural tubular elements,

plural aligned connectors disposed at ends of said elements,

means to rotate said elements to selectively position one of said elements in alignment With said connectors,

and means to translate the said elements in relation to said connectors to connect the selected said element to at least one of said connectors;

means to selectively replace a said element comprising 'iriner support means attached to said means-to-rotate at one end of the group of said elements,

the same plurality of clip means as the plurality of said elements,

said clip means fastened to said support means and shaped to removably circumferentially retain said elements.

14. In a turret assembly having plural circularly arranged coaxial electrical elements,

coaxial connectors aligned at opposite ends of said electrical elements,

means to simultaneously rotate all said electrical elements to selectively position one of said electrical elements in alignment with said connectors, and means to simultaneously translate all said electrical elements and at least one of said connectors to connect the selected said electrical element to said connectors;

means to selectively replace a said electrical element comprising an inner disk attached to said means-to-rotate at one end of the group of said electrical elements,

the same plurality of reentrant spring clips as the plurality of said electrical elements radially disposed around and attached to said disk and shaped to removably retain said electrical elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Mar. 27, 1940 Great Britain July 9, 1958 

8. IN AN ASSEMBLY HAVING PLURAL TUBULAR ELEMENTS, PLURAL ALIGNED CONNECTORS DISPOSED AT ENDS OF SAID ELEMENTS, MEANS TO ROTATE SAID ELEMENTS TO SELECTIVELY POSITION ONE OF SAID ELEMENTS IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID CONNECTORS, AND MEANS TO TRANSLATE THE SAID ELEMENTS IN RELATION TO SAID CONNECTORS TO CONNECT THE SELECTED SAID ELEMENT TO AT LEAST ONE OF SAID CONNECTORS; MEANS TO SELECTIVELY REPLACE A SAID ELEMENT COMPRISING 